Support of teammates, coaches helped junior turn corner this season

Sophomore Holden Greiner stood on the Saint Francis High School gym floor during a boys basketball practice five years ago.

He wasn't alone, but felt isolated.

After earning a spot in the starting lineup, Holden was called out by the senior he beat out. Other upperclassmen announced their support for the senior.

A few feet away, Gladiators coach Pat Clelland was quiet.

"Coach sat back, tested me, waiting to see how I handled it," Greiner recalled. "I just told them that all I wanted to do was win. A few games later, I didn't say much. I just put my hard hat on and proved I belonged [in the starting lineup].

Those same seniors joined others on the team in voting Greiner the team MVP that season.

It was the first positive resolution of several on the basketball court for the Traverse City, Mich., resident. Each one has been more challenging, each one testing his self-confidence.

Greiner's response to adversity this season is a significant reason why Lehigh University takes a Patriot League-best 9-3 record into Thursday night's game at nationally ranked Michigan State.

But it hasn't come easy.

Last season as a sophomore at Lehigh, Greiner's ability earned him a starting spot for coach Brett Reed's club.

But confidence got in his way. He hesitated taking a jumper. He timidly contested a shot or chased down a rebound.

As a result, he lost his starting spot to Jordan Hamilton for the league opener at American.

Again at a crossroads, Greiner talked to no one for a couple of days. When Reed approached him, Greiner said all the right things to make the coach believe he was OK with the decision. But, he wasn't.

During the morning practice on game day at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C., Greiner opted to channel his energy in a more constructive way.

"That was probably my best practice of the entire year," he admitted.

Greiner played well enough later that night against American to get his starting spot back, but his play remained inconsistent. His confidence remained fragile.

The 6-foot-7 forward expressed that in a players-only meeting after last season's loss in the Patriot League tournament semifinals.

Three teammates — Hamilton, Gabe Knutson and C.J. McCollum — sought him out after the meeting to re-emphasize that everyone had Greiner's back, that they believed in him and they needed him.

Greiner carried that support system with him throughout his offseason workouts and into the 2011-12 preseason.

His teammates and Reed said back in November that Greiner was the most improved player. But, no games had been played yet.

It took all of a couple of possessions in the season opener at St. John's for Greiner's confidence to be challenged again. He found himself open at the top of the key.

His footwork and body balance were correct. So was his frame of mind. Without hesitation, Greiner let it fly. Swish.

"It's been a different mentality this year," he admitted. "I wanted the opponent to have to guard five guys out there, not just one or two."

Greiner has been consistent with his play and confidence. He is averaging 12.6 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. He also leads the Mountain Hawks with 11 blocked shots and is second with 13 steals.

"That hesitancy he had was the split-second difference between a made field goal or [a miss]," Reed said. "Not having that [hesitance] really helps his rhythm, thinking he's not the third option on the catch, but one of the first and looking to score."

"We all believed in him," Hamilton said. "He just needed to believe in himself."

NOTES: (MEN) American's Charles Hinkle has scored in double figures in every game this season and is first in the league and ninth nationally with 21.7 ppg. … Ella Ellis is the only Army player to score in double figures in all 11 games, including a season-high 25 in recent win over Texas-Pan American. … Cameron Ayers leads Bucknell in scoring at 13.2 ppg., after posting 23 in a home win over Richmond. … Eight of Lehigh's nine wins have come by double figures. The Hawks have scored at least 70 points in all 12 games this season. … (WOMEN) Holy Cross' Alex Smith leads the team in points, assists and steals. … Lehigh has won four in a row this month, 17 in a row in December games. … Lafayette's Danielle Fiacco remains second nationally with 47 blocked shots. … Lehigh's Alexa Williams is the only PL woman who is averaging double figures in points and rebounds. … Holy Cross coach Bill Gibbons got his 500th win recently. … Army's Dave Magarity won No. 400 earlier this season. … Tamaqua's Amy Zehner, a freshman at Bucknell, recently was PL player and rookie of the week.